Can for rice and similar edible substances



Nov. 28, 1939. T. DOMOTO CAN FOR RICE AND SIMILAR EDIBLE SUBSTANCES Filed Aug. 24, 1937 INVENTOR. zikmvos/w/v Donoro ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES CAN FOR RICE AND SIMILAR EDIBLE SUBSTANCES Takancshin Domoto, Oakland, Calif Application August 24, 1937; Serial No. 160,597

2 Claims. (c1.,"220- 1) The present invention relates to improvements in cans for rice and similar edible substances.

It is an object of this invention toprovide a receptacle for the material named which will present advantages over the prior art structures in so far as the retention of the material packed in desirable condition is concerned, and also to provide a receptacle which will effect certain desirable economies in the cooking of the food contained thereby.

In brief these and other objects, which willbecome more apparent as this specification proceeds, are accomplished by the provision of a can structure in which a pair of bowl-shaped perforate members are fitted at the top and bottom of the can and held in spaced relation by an open tubular member, the material contained thereby being packed between the perforate members and around the tubular member. The bowl-shaped perforate members provide a drainage area into which free liquids may be drained regardless of whether the can is stood upon its top or bottom. The tubular member which, as indicated, serves to hold the bowl-shaped members in spaced relation, also serves to more evenly distribute the heat throughout the container during the cooking process and thus to materially improve the quality of the pack as well as shorten the time required for this purpose.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds and the novelty of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing forming-a part hereof:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a can embodying the novel features of this invention, with certain of the parts and the material contained thereby being shown in elevation, and

Figure 2 is a section taken along the line IIIIII of Figure 1.

The novel principles of this invention are adapted for use in conjunction with a can It of conventional construction, such as an open ended cylinder of tin or like material closed at its two ends by a top I I and a bottom l2 crimped thereto to provide a hermetically sealed receptacle.

A pair of perforate bowl-shaped members it and M are held in spaced relation by a tubular member l5, the member E3, in the present instance, being arranged so that its concaved surface is disposed toward the top I i, and the bowl member [4 being likewise disposed toward the bottom [2.

The ends of the tubular member l5 project through the apertures ll in the perforate bowlnumeral shaped members l3 and i4 and the three elements are maintained in the position illustrated in Figure 1 by the provision of the annular rings or shoulders IS on the tubular member l5 which bear against the members l3 and [4.

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing the product shown as being packed is rice, designated by the [8. It will be noted that the rice is shown as packed between the perforate bowlshaped members I3 and I4 and around the tubular member [5. In canning rice it is highly desirable to keep the bulk thereof relatively free of all moisture and particularly free of liquids which have a tendency to break down the composition of the individual rice kernels when the pack is allowed to stand any appreciable length of time. When the individual kernels of rice are thus broken down the product attains a mushy like appearance or characteristic and this has been found highly undesirable from a standpoint of purchaser appeal.

Thus it is an object of the present invention, through the means illustrated and heretofore described to provide a container adapted to drain the material packed of all free liquids and retain the same in this separated condition as long as the package shall be allowed'tostand. Hence, assuming that the can 10, in storage, is stood upon the bottom [2, the free liquids accompanying the rice I 8 would be drained into the area defined by the perforate bowl-shaped member l4 and thus kept separate from the rice I8. In the event that the package is inverted, that is to say, stood upon its top H the said free liquids would drain, either through the bulk of rice It,

or the tubular member l5 or both, into the area defined by the bowl-shaped perforate member I3.

In addition to thus serving as a drainage conduit the tubular member [5 also serves to more evenly distribute the heat throughout the interior of the container Ill during the cooking process. It is a well known fact that in ordinary canning practices, the food nearest the walls of the tin is frequently subjected to overcooking when the temperature is gauged so as to effectively and thoroughly process the material at the middle of the container. Conversely, when a lower temperature or a shorter cooking period is employed there are instances of undercooking of the material at the center of the container. These conditions are particularly noticeable in the case of the dense packs, of which rice is an example.

I am aware of the fact that various means have been devised in an effort to overcome these evils but I am not aware that as yet any practical devices have been developed. It is apparent that the tubular member I 5 when used in conjunction with the other elements of my invention will adequately accomplish the desired objective.

Heat will freely pass through the tubular member I5 and desirably affect the material in the center area of the tin.

10 Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hermetically sealed container of the class described comprising a cylinder, top and bottom closures therefor, a pair of bowl-shaped perfo- 5 rate members having their concavities disposed toward and bearing against said top and bottom, respectively, each of said perforate members having an axial aperture, a tubular member between ,said perforate members with its ends projecting their concavities ,disposed toward and bearing against said top and bottom, respectively, each of said perforate members having an axial aperture, and a tubular spacing member with its ends projecting through said axial apertures, said perforate members and said spacing member defining a medial area within the container for the product to be contained thereby and drainage areas at opposite ends of the container.

TAKANOSHLN DOMOI'O.. 

